[at-l] Thru-hike clothes (and laundry tips)

[at2002@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (Gary Wright)]

On Monday, February 3, 2003, at 01:08  PM, Datto wrote:
> As some of you prepare for the start of your upcoming AT
> thru-hike I'll bet you may be in the process of cutting
> pack weight. Clothes are certainly an area to consider when
> looking to shed those ounces.

Great info Datto.

Another thing to think about as you put together your
clothing list is what you are going to wear while doing
laundry.  Lots of folks wear their rain gear since it
doesn't have to actually be in the laundry (usually).  Rain
gear tends to be ungodly hot when you are sitting in a
laundromat in July though.  I tried to keep my long-sleeve
shirt and pants dry and clean while on the trail and then
changed into them in town.  You have to get used to
putting on stinky wet hiking clothes in the morning if
you want to keep your town clothes "clean". Most laundromats
have a bathroom where you can change your clothes.

Another option when there are lots of hikers around is
to wash everything you can without standing naked in
the laundromat and then when your laundry is done you
can put on your clean clothes and toss what you were
wearing in with another hikers laundry.  It is quite
common for two or three hikers to put their laundry in
together.  If you are using common hiking gear (smartwool
socks come to mind), you might want to mark your clothes
in some way to help with the sorting when the laundry
is done.

Yet another option is to include a change of clothes
in your bounce/drift box to use while in town.

After a few weeks on the trail, especially when it is
damp and/or rainy, your sleeping bag might be looking a
little limp.  A quick tumble in the dryer is a great
way to fluff up your bag.  Be careful of the temps on
those commercial dryers though.

Radar www.trailjournals.com/gwright
AT2002,PCT2003?,CDT?